Method of preserving human bodies.



PATBNTED JULY 24, 1906.

M. s. Lagoa. METHOD of' PRESBYWING HUMAN sumas,

APLIGATN ELBD FEBG. 1906,

UNITED srafrns PATENT OFFICE.

METHOD OFPRESERVING HUMAN BODlES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

.application iile February 1906. Serial No. 29n682- To at?, whom zit may concern:

Be it known that l., MONROE S. Lenen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Preserving Human Bodies, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to an improvedV method of treating human bodies after death to greserve them. L

ne of the objects of m inventionris to subject the body to the e ect of a suitable germicide to kill the bacteria therein and then to deposit the body in a rece tacle in which it is to remain and to then sea the said receptacle to revent evaporation of the liquids of the orlyy whereby it will be reserved for all time and will retain its life-like ap earance. y

n the drawings l have shown an aparatus by the use of which my new an improved method may be carried into effect, in Whiehv Figure 1 is a plan view showing the receptacle in horizontal section. Fig. 2 shows an elevation of the receptacle and its associated apparatus.

hroughout the drawin s like numerals of reference refer always to li e parts.

The receptacle 5 is made, preferably, of boiler sheet-iron or steel lates of a form such as shown, adapted to Wit stand considerable ressure. To avoid the necessity of internal racing, the receptacle is preferably made in cylindrical or oval shape. The closure or door 6 partakes of the same general form being hinged, as at 7, and provided with bro enjoint ledges,v as at8, arr ed to coact with similar ledges 8', provided in the o en end of the main structure, whereby s stantially door closed.

v air-ti ht contact may be had therewith when said oor is tightly closed and further clamped and held by means ofthe cam-levers 8 8", of which there are a sufficient number placedl preferably equisdistant a art around the edges of the o ening for mly holding the acks 9 and 10, preferably vseveral tiers high, havingrests or brackets 1 1 11, are arranged 'Within the receptacle open which the open caskets 15 15 or other holders supportin or containing the bodies are to be supporte during treatment. Any desired number of racks or tierso shelves for the purpose ma be provided. Railroad- 4tracks 12, 13, an 14 are laid parallel Within f the corridors between the rackaand a ear, such as illustrated and described in in application for Letters Patent of the Unite States for improvements in mausoleums, iiled August 21, 1905J Serial No. 274:998, may be prrovided for transportinY the bodies to and om the receptacle and or raisin them up to the desired bracket upon the rac s and for removing them therefrom.

16 is a vacuum and pressure gage.

17 is a reservoir for containin a ermicide gas such as sulfur dioxid or t e ike, connected with the receptacle 5 by means of a pipe 18, containing a stop-cock 19. A pressure-pump 2i) is connected to the reservoir 17 i by means of a ipe 21 and to the receptacle by means of t e pipe 22. A vacuum exhaust-pump 23 is connected to the receptacle 5 by means of thc'pipe 24. Suitable checkvaives 20' and 23 are associated with therespective pumps.

In the practice of my invention the following is the preferred mode of procedure: The receptacle 5 is opened and the desired number of bodies are placed upon the brackets, each in a suitable receptacle, preferably individual caskets, which are left open, leaving the body preferably nude and freely exposed to the eii'ect of the gases. The door is then closed and tightly clam ed in position by means o the eccentric c am levers S, the ledges 8 enacting with similar edges S', breaking joint and affordin a means for securing a practically air-tight c osure. Exhaust-pump 23 is new slowly set inte operation, and most of the air and other gases within the receptacie 5 are gradually pumped out, after which stop-cock 19 is o cned, when the ermicide as contained in t e reservoir 17, W 'ch may e at atmospheric pressure or sli htly above, if desired, will enter the receptacle 5 through the pipe 18. Then cock 19 is closed and pressure-pump 2O is started, by means of which e portion of the contents of reservoir the rassure-gagev 16 shall preferably indicate one undred to one hundred and t pounds per square inch* The apparatus 1s left in this condition for a period of time, prefere-billy Yfrom six hours to twenty-four hours, s cient for the gas to thoronghly permeate the 'entire bod structure, and thus destroy all of the bacterlagof the bod It must be borne in mind that it is highly desirable to apply this high pressure very gradually to prevent collapse o the tissues. After suilicient time IOO 17 may be forced into the receptacle 5 until los y IIG has elapsed to accomplish the desired object the stop-cock 19 is opened and gas from the rece tacle- 5 will return to the reservoir 17 unti their respective pressures equalize, or, if desirable, the pressure-pump may be used to return practically all of the gas down to atmospheric ressure in the receptacle 5 into the reservoir 17. The door 6 is then opened and the bodies within the receptacle 5, which have undergone treatment, are each laced in air-tight individual caskets and t en hermetically sealed. Before sealing, the germicide gas may be pumped into the casket under a slight pressure. The special reason f or sealin the casket is to revent the evaporation o the liquids of tllie body, so that the body will retaln its natural ap earance.

While I have shown a sing e embodiment of a means for carrying my invention into effect, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the apparatus disclosed without 'in any manner departing from the spirit and sco e of said invention.

aving thus described -my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A method of treating the human body after death, which consists in placing the body in a receptacle, then substantially extracting the air and other gases from said receptacle, then admitting a germicide into said receptacle, then subjecting the contents tacle.

2. A method of treating the human body after death, which consists in placing the body in a receptacle, then substantially extracting the air and other gases from said receptacle, then admitting a germicide into said receptacle, then subjecting the contents of said receptacle to a ressure equal to one or more atmospheres a ove normal, then reducing the pressure to normal, and then transferring the bod to another receptacle, then substantially fil in the latter receptacle with a germicide, and nally hermetically sealing said receptacle. t

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

MONROE S. LEECH.

In presence of- FORE BAIN, MARY F. ALLEN. 

